Guardians lose 8-6 to the Rockies on July 29 after a 9th-inning collapse, hours after closer Emanuel Clase was put on leave for a betting investigation.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Tuesday was a day Cleveland Guardians fans will want to forget, but likely won't be able to. The gut punch arrived in two parts: first, the shocking pre-game news that star closer Emanuel Clase was placed on administrative leave amid a sports betting investigation, and second, a brutal 8-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies that felt like a direct consequence, as a shorthanded bullpen crumbled in a four-run ninth-inning disaster.
The go-ahead RBI single in the ninth came from none other than former Guardian Tyler Freeman. You just can't make this stuff up.
The game itself was almost secondary to the bombshell that dropped earlier in the day. MLB placed All-Star closer Emanuel Clase on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation into alleged violations of the league's sports betting policy. The move leaves a gaping hole at the back of the bullpen and raises serious questions about the team's future. Without their lockdown closer, the Guardians' already thin margin for error just evaporated.
After a 2.5-hour rain delay, the game delivered a rollercoaster of emotions. The Guardians clawed back from a 3-0 deficit, with Bo Naylor's electrifying pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh sparking a rally that gave them a 5-3 lead. But the good feelings were short-lived. Stepping into the closer role, Cade Smith couldn't hold a 6-4 lead in the ninth. He surrendered four runs, capped by a go-ahead single from former Guardian Tyler Freeman, twisting the knife in a painful collapse. Defensive miscues added to the misery, sealing a loss that felt symbolic of a day gone wrong.
As if the on-field and off-field drama wasn't enough, the injury report continues to be a source of frustration. Top prospect Chase DeLauter is now out until early September with a right hamate fracture requiring surgery. He's joined on the shelf by infielder Juan Brito, who is nursing a significant left hamstring strain. While reinforcements from the injured list are hoped for later in the season, with Paul Sewald (shoulder) and John Means (UCL) targeting late-season returns, it offers little immediate relief for a team that needs it now.
The loss drops the Guardians to 52-54, a full nine games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. The team is on a two-game skid and losing precious ground in the Wild Card race. What was once a promising season is now on the brink, with the team's biggest star sidelined and the bullpen in shambles. The pressure is mounting with each passing day.
There's no time to dwell on this disaster. The Guardians are right back at it tonight against the Rockies, with Logan Allen taking the mound. It's a must-win game, not just for the standings, but for the morale of a clubhouse and a fanbase that was rocked to its core. Cleveland needs a stopper, and they need one now. All eyes will be on how this team responds to one of the toughest days in recent memory.
